Mechanico-fluid-pressure method of producing lateral-provided fittings



'. July 2, 1940- E. s. CORNELL, JR 2,206,741 ETILIOD 0F PRODUCING LATERALJROVIDED FITTINGS MECHANICO FLUIDPRE$SURE M Filed Dec. 6, 1937 lid no JM R Y mm H m .R W S d w. d E

4,5 resides in the employme Patented July 2,

PATENT orri'cs Mscnmoo-FLUm-PaEssUnE METHOD OF raonuome LATERAL-PROVIDED FIT- TINGS Edward s. Cornell, Jr, Larchmont, N. Y. Application December 6, 1937, Serial No.1 '78,278

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a combined mechanicaland fluid pressure method of producing lateralprovided fittings.

The method is particularly applicable to the production of Te provided with one or more laterals, the T resulting from my process having its lateral integral of itself, its body inclusive of the walls of its end openings integral individually and the stated parts integral with one ano tger, thereby producing a; T or other lateral-pr 'ided 'fitting wholly without joint.

My invention is of particular advantage in the production of Ts and other lateral-provided fittings from commercially pure copper and alloys oil-predominant copper content, and in the ab- 'sence of supplied elevated temperature capable,

in the useof copper or alloys of predominant copper content, of forming cuprous oxide or other- T or' other lateral-provided fitting, and subjecting such tube to combined mechanical pressure with respect tothe walls of the tube and fluid pressure internally of the tube, to derive the desired T or other lateral-provided fitting.

Advantageousiy, such -.combined mechanical and internal fluid pressures are effected by suit I able punches or male die members, suitably 1 shaped and dimensioned to simultaneously effect,

as when actuated by a press or the like, bodily at pressure endwise of the tube, in approaching. di-

rections toward the central portion of the tube, and the building up and maintenance of pressure otthe fluid medium internally oi the tube, whereby the metal of the tube is caused to flow in approaching directions from the respective ends of the tube toward the central portion of the tube finned into the one or more lateral apertures 01 the A particular feature oi! the present invention t of one'or more punches having a relatively elongated nose, the periphery 01' which conforms closely to the internal diameter of the tube, such nose extending to or beyond the region of the juncture of the "run aperture 5 oi the die with the one or more lateral apertures ot the die, the run? being understood as the interior of the body of the T or other lateral-provided fitting, as distinguished from the interior of the one or more laterals. By the employment 01 such one or more relatively long nosed punches, upon the application of bodily pressure endwise of the tube, the cylindrical or other original formation of the tube is maintained. Advantageously, the formation of the terminal portion of such one or more relatively long nosed punches facilitates the flow of the oil or otherfiuid medium efiecting the internal fluid pressure,

in the direction of the lateral or directions of the respective'laterals.

The above stated process gives rise directly to a body of a T or the like having a lateral formation. 7

Subsequent and/orfinishing operations may then be carried out, to derive particular characteristics of body and/or lateral configurations, as may be desired.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fully understood irom the following detail description and the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central section of a T, capable of being produced by the method of my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away in central section, illustrating a length of tube, serving as the original work, for producing a T- of the type illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view, diagrammatically shown in side elevation; of a two-part split die, suitable for the reception of the length of tube, shown in Fig. 2, and a pair of relatively. long nosed punches or male dies, appropriate for application of bodily endwise mechanical pressure upon the thus positioned length-of tube;

Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically, corresponding to. Fig. 3, the positioning of the length" of tube and the respective relatively long nosed punches, together with a predetermined quantity of oilor other fluid medium internally of the tube and between the noses of the respective punches, preparatory for the application of pressure upon the punches, to effect bodily pressure upon the material of the tube, endwise in directions toward the central portion of the tube and therewith concurrent building up and maintenance of the fluid pressure internally of the tube;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view, corresponding to that of Fig. 4, illustrating a final stage of combined body pressure, endwise of the material of the tube toward its central portion and concurrent building up and maintenance of fluid pressure internally of the tube, whereby there is formed by my method, a lateral having outer dimensions and configurations, predetermined by the lateral apertureof the die;

(It is observed from Figs. 4 and 5, that a plug having a convex effective face, may be employed in, and serving as a closure for the lateral opening of the die, giving rise to a concave dome" formation at the terminus of the lateral.)

Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section of the lateral-provided formation, of the tube shown in Fig. 2,-resulting from the operations indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, the dome of the lateral being indicated as separated, i. e. severed, at the terminus of the lateral;

Fig. 7 is a detail view indicating one manner of expanding an end opening of the T formation shown in Fig. 6, to derive an end opening-and likewise a lateral op'eningof the type indicated in Fig. 1.

As indicated herein, my present method is applicable for the production of Ts and other lateral-provided fittings, with such inner and outer diameters, wall thicknesses, relative lengths of body end openings and lateral .or laterals, ad libitum, as may be desired. Accordingly, the 'T I illustrated in Fig. 1 serves merely to indicate a type of T which is producible pursuant to my method. With respect to the T I0, illustrated in Fig. 1, Illa indicates one end opening, Ilib the opposite end opening, IIlc the lateral opening, and Ind the body. Desirably, as is indicated in Fig. 1, each end opening and the lateral opening is provided with an abutment, indicated at Ille,

applicable to serve as a stop for the reception of the ,end of a pipe, telescopically inserted within such opening or openings, for connection therein, as by sweat jointing.

Applicable for the production of a T, such as the type indicated in Fig. 1, I employ a length of tube II, see Fig. 2, as the wor which is subjected to combined bodily endwise pressure and internal fluid pressure. Such tube I I is preferably of commercially pure copper or of alloy of predominant copper content. Advantageously, the wall thickness, see Ila, is selected in correspondence to the wall thickness, see "if, Fig. 1, of the body of the resulting T. By reason of the characteristic operation features of my invention, the cubical content of the tube II, is predetermined for minimum waste, as appears more fully hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, such length of tube II is positioned within a suitable instrumentality, such as the indicated two-part split die, indicated generally by the reference number I2,- such die being provided with an aperture Ila extending in the direction of the "run of the die and the desired one or more lateral apertures I'Zb.

In the specific die I2, illustrated in Figs. 3 and/'4, the run or main aperture I21: and the single lateral aperture I2b correspond generally to the T formation shown in Fig. 1.

Upon suitably positioning such length of tube II, serving as the work," within such die I2, and closing the same, suitably nosed punches or male die members I3, I4, and a suitable fluid medium interposed within the tube and between the noses of the punches, described more fully hereinafter, are employed to effect combined bodily endwise pressure and concurrently therewith internal fluid pressure, the actuation of such punches or male die members I3, I4, being had by means of a suitable power press, or equivalent.

Desirably, the terminus I2b' of the lateralaperture terminus I2b'. Advantageously, the effective face, see Ia', of such plug is of convex formation, attaining advantages as appear more fully hereinafter.

For the attainment of such combined bodily pressure and internal fluid pressure, such punches I3, I4, are respectively provided with abutments, see I3a, I to, Figs. 3 and 4, advantageously formed by reduction of diameter, the reduced diameter of the resulting body I3b of the punch I3likewise the reduced diameter of the body Nb of the nose of the punch I4--making a close, i. e., fluid medium proof, fit withthe inner diameter of the "work II.

An important characteristic of my present invention resides in eifecting in a positive manner the maintainance, i. e., preservation and without internal collapse and/or external deformation, of the original wall configuration of the work during the stage of flow of the material of the work" in the directions from the regions of the ends of the "work toward its central portion, including the preservation of the material of the wall portion of the "work disposed adjacent to and within the region of juncture of the run of the fitting with its lateral, and particularly that portion of the material of the work within the region of the stated juncture remote from the opening of the lateral, indicated by the reference character II see Fig. 4.

Thev attainment of such objectives is had by the employment, pursuant to one form of my method, of a relatively long nose for at least one of the punches, to bring about when such punch or punches are properly related to the "wor when the same are assembled in the die, viz., at the stage indicated in Fig. 4, that such elongated nose or noses extend internally of the work to and within the zone of the die aperture common to the run and lateral portions thereof, i. e., the region of juncture of the "run" of the fitting with the lateral of the fitting. As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the punch I3, is provided with a long nose, which extendsto and within the stated region, and its terminal portion I3b positively engaging the inner face of the "wor to positively preclude the collapse internally of the materialsee II, Fig. 4-the wall of the run aperture of the die precluding any tendency of external deformation of the work." The terminal portion l4b of the nose of the punch I4, as observed from Fig. 4, may extend approximately to the juncture of the "run aperture-Ha with the lateral aperture I 2b.

Oil or other suitable medium normally flowable or capable of being rendered flowable under the pressure operation conditions, indicated I6. is disposed internally of the "work II and interposed between the terminal portions of the noses of the respective punches I3, I4.

Upon application of force, as by a power press, upon the punches I3, I, bodily pressure upon the material of'the "work isapplied endwise of the work in directions toward the central portion of the "wor and concurrently therewith the building-up and maintenance of internal fluid pressure.

' of the worm effected by, the stated combined bodily and internal fluid pressures. By such combined bodily, endwise applied, pressure, and the stated concurrent intemalfiuid pressure, the material of the "work" is caused to flow in directions from the respective ends of the "work" toward its central portion and into and from the 75 region of the "run aperture In of the die intoand within the lateral aperture l2bof the die. In such operation, the abutment formations Ila, Ila, serve to respectively progress the end portions of the work longitudinally of the "run" aperture In of the die, while the outer peripheries of the respective elongated noses l 3b and Nb of the punches l3, l4, maintain the cylindrical or other inner configuration of the "work, the terminal portion l3b' of the punch l3, and to a degree of the terminal portion Nb of the punch l4, by reason of their extension to and within the region of juncture of the "run aperture I21: and lateral aperture l2b of the die, precluding buckling or other'deformation of the "work during such operation.

Preferably, as is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5,

the terminal portions I31) and Nb, are stepped in staggered relation, thus giving rise, as is indicated by comparison of the showings in Figs. 4 and 5, of a channel between the stated stepped terminal nose formations I31) and Nb, serving to direct the fluid medium l6 toward and into the lateral aperture l2b, thus expediting the flow of the metal into the lateral aperture I21) and toward and in pressure contact with the walls of the lateral aperture l2b of the die.

As appears, my invention enables the selection of the wall thickness of the "work in correspondence to the desired wall thickness of the body of the resultant fitting, by reason of the preservation-and without collapse-of the original wall thickness of the work, in carrying out my method. I

In the stated, or equivalent, combined mechanical and internal fiuid pressure operations, the contour of the lateral aperture [2b, predetermines the outer configuration of ,the resulting lateral formation. Desirably, as set forth more fully hereinabove, the employment of a plug l5, having a convex effective face formation l5a, or other desired effective face formation, controls the flow of the metal within the lateral aperture l2b of the die. The production of a dome, see 1 lb, Figs. 5 and 6, of outer concave contour, resulting from the stated convex face formation l5a of the plug l5, reduces waste of material of the work to a minimum. As is indicated in Fig. 6, the terminal dome formation llb is removed, as by severing the same from the lateral formation, thus giving rise to open ended lateral i la, see Fig. 6. The body of the resulting lateralprovided, 1. e., general T formation, illustrated in Fig. 6', is designated lld and the respective body end openings designated lie and -I If. I

Such resulting lateral-provided formation, indicatd in Fig. 6, is then treated to such subsequent and/or finishing operations as may be desired, as by expanding the respective body end openings He, II as is indicated in Fig. '7, to derive a type of expanded body end openings Ina, lllb, illustrated in Fig. 1. A suitable form of expanding tool l1 and holding die l8 are indicated in Fig. '7'.

In lieu of severing the dome formation at the terminal of the lateral formation, the material of the dome formation may be utilized, in subsequentoperations, asby the well known ball procedure, to form an extension to the lateral formation effected by the stated concurrent bodily pressure and internal fluid pressure.

Commercially pure copper, or alloy of predominant copper content, is particularly applicable as the material of the work employable in carrying out my invention, affording cold working of the work,"'pur suant to the steps hereinabove set forth, thereby precluding the formation of cuprous oxides or other deleterious conditions.

In like manner, other types of lateral-provided the desired number of laterals at their respective desired locations of the resultant fitting.

In the appended claims I define the term flateral of the resultant fitting as including not only one lateral but such plurality-oi laterals as may be desired in the resultant fitting.

Whereas I have described my invention erence to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the v invention.

I claim:

1. The method of producing a lateral-provided fitting of a desired metal having a desired wall thickness of its body, which comprises selecting a hollow length of the desired'metal having a wall thickness corresponding to the stated body wall thickness of the fitting, such hollow length serving as the work, placing the work in a suitable die provided with a run aperture and a lateral aperture, inserting rigid members having a diameter. substantially equal to the interior diameter of the work within said work, confining a body of liquid within said work intermediate said rigid members, and applying endwise pressure to said work indirection from the respective ends thereof toward its central portion and concurrently therewith to fluid pressure internally of the workwhile initially supporting the wall of said work within the region within the juncture remote from the opening of said lateral by con tact with said rigid element and a wall of said die and progressively increasing the area of said support as the material of the workunder the stated concurrent bodily pressure and the internal fluid pressure is caused to flow from the wall formation of the work into the lateral aperture of the die. a

2. The method of producing a lateral-provided fitting of a desired metal having a desired wall thickness of its body, which comprises selecting a hollow length of the desired metal having a wall thickness corresponding to the stated body wall thickness of the fitting, such hollow length serving as the work, placing the work in a suitable die provided with a run aperture and a lateral aperture, inserting rigid members having a diameter substantially equal to the interior diameter of the work within said work, confining flow of the confined fluid from the run portion of the said work into the lateral thereof as the material of the work under the stated concurrent bodily pressure and the internal fluid preswithina die having a run aperture adapted to form the run of the fitting and a lateral" aperture for forming the lateral of such fitting, inserting punch means having an outside diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the work into thework to support the wall of the work in contact with the walls of the die atlocations adjacent the intersection of the wall of the lateral aperture with the 'wall of the run aperture and to support the wall of said work in the zone of the apertures of the die common to the run and lateral thereof, confining a body of liquid within the work and applying pressure to the end walls 01' the work in direction from the respective ends thereof and concurrently therewith applying fluid pressure internally of the work, to flow the material of the work laterally of itself and angularly of its longitudinal axis into the lateral aperture of the die to form a lateral branch of the fitting while moving said punch means to continually support the walls of the work between said punch means and the walls of the die at the areaof intersection of the wall of the-lateral aperture with the wall or the run aperture and progressively to'increase the area of engagement of said punch means with the wall of the work in the aforementioned zone to an ultimate condition wherein substantially all of the wall of the work in such zone is engaged by said punch means.

- EDWARD S. CORNELL, JR. 

